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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | April 24, 2023 11:30 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Ryan P. Aument |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Consumer Choice Billing |
| Electric and natural gas prices have skyrocketed over the last year and energy experts anticipate electric and natural gas consumer bills to keep climbing, even as overall inflation eases. Commonwealth consumers are both frustrated with increased energy costs and by how little control they have over the bills they pay with little to no return in value. In response to this public outcry, I plan to introduce legislation to establish the Consumer Choice Billing Act to provide consumers more options and control over their energy decisions and make it easier for them to work directly with a retail supplier of their choice that offers products and services designed to maximize savings for their home or business. Under provisions of the legislation, electric and natural gas customers who choose a competitive electric or natural gas supplier would receive a single bill from that same competitive electric or natural gas supplier. This will enhance energy product and service innovation and improve customer service as suppliers find new ways to win and retain customers. It will also improve transparency by allowing consumers to see exactly how much they are being charged for their electric and natural gas services, while at the same time, encourage conservation by giving consumers increased access to data to help them use less and save more. The Consumer Choice Billing Act would also increase consumer protections through billing, collection, and recordkeeping reforms that include but are not limited to: 1) change competitive marketing and sales practices; 2) reduce utility risk by requiring a higher level of technical competence and financial security for competitive suppliers to be eligible to bill their consumers directly; 3) strengthen competitive electric and natural gas supplier qualifications to ensure that only credible, qualified suppliers are participating in the competitive market. Now more than ever, Commonwealth consumers need a break and I believe that The Consumer Choice Billing Act will give them more control over their bill, with added protections and greater value in the electric and natural gas products and services that will be made available to them. Please join me in co-sponsoring this important piece of legislation. |
Introduced as SB833